According to this year's Global Terrorism Index, Religious extremism is the main driver of terrorism in recent years.
The Global Terrorism Index recorded a 60% increase over the 18,000 deaths in 2013. The majority of these deaths are attributed to a central location and specific groups. Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria and Syria accounted for 80% of the deaths and Islamic State (Isis) in Iraq and Syria, Boko Haram in Nigera, the Taliban in Afghanistan, and al-Qaida accounted for 66% of the deaths.
Since the suicide attacks in 9/11, there has been fivefold increase in deaths from terrorism.

People turn to religion when they have no other way to feel accepted, and when even that doesn't help they become fanatics. It is no coincidence that there is a rise in religious extremism since 9/11 .